Now that the holidays are here, many of us have started looking for the perfect gift to give to our loved ones. Finding the right gift can be hard. But when you are trying to buy a gift for someone with a chronic illness, it may be even harder. Chronic illnesses are persistent or long-lasting… Continue reading 9 Gift Ideas for Someone Living with Chronic Illness
Category: Patient Experiences
What is Seasonal Depression?
As the weather gets colder and days become shorter, you may notice you have less energy, feel a little less optimistic and spend more time alone. While this may not be a cause for concern, about 5% of the U.S population experience seasonal depression during the fall and winter months. Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a subtype of depression that begins and ends around the same time every… Continue reading What is Seasonal Depression?
6 Possible Causes of Multiple Sclerosis
If you’re living with multiple sclerosis, you probably have a lot of questions about your diagnosis. You might be wondering how you developed the disease and what your outlook is. While the course of the disease will vary from person to person, an exact cause has yet to be identified. Scientists have found that a combination of factors often causes multiple… Continue reading 6 Possible Causes of Multiple Sclerosis
Medication-Free Ways To Feel Better With Parkinson’s Disease
Getting a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis can be overwhelming. This neurodegenerative disorder affects movement and doesn’t have a cure, but with the right medications and complementary or alternative therapies, symptoms can be managed. Incorporating medication-free ways into Parkinson’s treatment can help people living with the condition improve their health and well-being, along with preserving physical function… Continue reading Medication-Free Ways To Feel Better With Parkinson’s Disease
9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness
If you’re living with a chronic illness, there’s a good chance your doctor has suggested altering your diet to help reduce or eliminate inflammation in the body. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between inflammation and chronic conditions like cancer, autoimmune disease, lung and heart disease, gut disorders, asthma, and diabetes. When the… Continue reading 9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness
Chronic Illness-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving is meant for gathering around the table to enjoy time with and connect to friends and family. Chronic illness symptoms like fatigue, achy joints and muscles, and pain are not invited to the table. While a warm, heavy, and possibly sugary dish can bring people together in a special way, it can also cause… Continue reading Chronic Illness-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
Navigating the Holidays with a Chronic Illness
The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, and it can be hard to get into the spirit when you’re living with a chronic illness. While there are a lot of joyful parts about the holidays, there are also some stressful parts. That’s why it’s important to recognize what aspects of the holiday seasons trigger your symptoms and to have a plan in place to reduce them. Do the holidays make chronic illness worse? Navigating the holidays with a chronic illness can be difficult,… Continue reading Navigating the Holidays with a Chronic Illness
Job Hunting While Living with a Disability or Chronic Illness
According to the CDC, 61 million adults (or 1 in 4 adults) in the United States live with a disability. In addition, chronic diseases affect approximately 133 million Americans, representing more than 40% of the total population of the United States. In fact, the National Health Council states “more and more people are living with not… Continue reading Job Hunting While Living with a Disability or Chronic Illness
Unexpected Warning Signs of MS
Multiple sclerosis can be one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose because of the variety of symptoms it causes and the ways they present. Most people with MS experience their first symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. Sometimes, symptoms can come on suddenly and go away just as quickly. Other times, symptoms will start minimally and progressively get worse. Because MS effects everyone differently,… Continue reading Unexpected Warning Signs of MS
10 Early Warning Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease
How often do you think about your kidneys? Probably not very often. When your kidneys are functioning properly, it’s easy to forget what a key role they play in your health. But when your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should, your body will send you warning signals to let you know something is wrong. These warnings can be early indicators of chronic kidney disease. What is… Continue reading 10 Early Warning Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease